Ophthalmic mounting and process of making the same



Jan. 12, 1943. G. E. NERNEY 2,303,200

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Ofiginal Filed Aug. 15, 1938 'INVENTOR GEORGE E. NERNEY BY 'W 7 0M kA?TORNEY Jan. 12, 1943. Q E. NERNEY I 2,308,200

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME Original Filed Aug.15, 1938 2 Sheets-Shet 2 'INVENTOR GEORGE E. NERNEY- AT RNE Y PatentedJan. 12, 1943 STATES OPHTHALBHC MOUNTING AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAMEGeorge E. Nerney, Attleboro, Mass, assignor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge,

Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bridges or like lensconnecting means for ophthalmic mountings and to an improved process formaking the same.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 224,872, filedAugust 15, 1938, which has matured into Patent No. 2,247,639 of July 1,1941.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide in astructure of this nature a combination of parts and arrangement thereofto obtain the various advantages requisite in a device of this characterand to overcome the disadvantages inherent in the problem of fittingsuch articles to various facial requirements and at the same time obtainan appealing appearance of design so necessary in an article that is tobe worn on the face.

Lens connecting means are required to ease off the strain of use on thelenses so as to minimize breakage, and therefore a certain amount offlexibility of flex action is essential. Nevertheless the lensconnecting means must provide adequate stiffness, once it has beenadjusted by the fitter, so as to maintain the alignment of th partsincluding the lenses; and at the same time it must bridge the nosewithout chafing or bringing enough pressure to bear on some part of thenose to cause discomfort.

A light bridge tends toward the requisite fiexiu bility. At the sametime it gives an attractive appearance. Furthermore, it is economical ofmetal, which is an important consideration in articles which are oftenmade of gold. The problem in a light bridge is to obtain adequatebracing so that the parts extending therefrom will be maintained inproper alignment.

The type of bridge sometimes known in the art as a wrap around bridge isa desirable type, and popular because it enhances the appearance whenworn on faces with noses of certain shapes and proportions. The wraparound bridge is bowed forwardly-over the bridge of the nose; or fromanother point of view it recedes progressively on both sides from itscenter, following the arch of the nose, so as to sweep back from theplane of the lenses. This tends to give a narrowing appearance, which isattractive when the bridge is worn on these faces.

An important object of thi invention is to provide a construction whichcombines lightness with adequate bracing in a type of device whichrecedes or sweeps back following the arch of the nose.

necting means by which the aforesaid advantages may be obtained.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are to obtain in acomposite structure the ability to obtain a desirable fore and aftspring or flexure or flex action, to provide adequate bracing adjacentthe point of juncture between the horizontal and vertical members, toprovide maximum space for the nose and to allow for the use of largerlenses, and to provide a new combination of parts and their arrangementwith a pleasing appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. It is clear that many modifications in the details ofconstruction and arrangement f parts and in the steps of the process maybe made without departing from the invention as set forth in theaccompanying claims. The preferred forms and arrangements and steps ofthe process are set forth and described by way of illustration only,hence I do not wish to be limited other than set forth in the saidclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure I is a front view of a spectacle embodying the invention;

Figure II is a fragmentary plan view of the central portion of thespectacle shown in Figure I;

Figure III is a detail sectional view on the line III-III of Figure I;

Figure IV shows a fragment of a sheet of material from which the bridgehas been blanked;

Figure V is a bridge blank showing one step in the process of making;

Figure VI shows another step of the process and illustrates the piercingof the blank by spaced plungers in a former or die member, the latterbeing-shown in section;

Figure VII is a plan view showing the bridge Figure XII is a detailsectional view on the line XII-XII of Figure XI showing the roundededges of the die for reshaping the pierced portions of the bridge blank,the section being on an enlarged scale;

Figure XIII shows the bridge blank after it has been struck by theengraving dies;

Figure XIV is a diagrammatic view illustrating the step of bending theends of the bridge blank;

Figure XV shows the bridge blank after the ends have been bent out;

Figure XVI is an enlarged partial perspective of a portion of thefinished bridge blank showing the pierced portion in section;

Figure XVII is cross section on line XVII- XVII of Figure XVI showingthe partial indenture adjacent the pierced portion of the bridge blank;and

Figure XVIII is a perspective view of a finished bridge with theengraving omitted.

It is recognized in the art that while a bridge for an ophthalmicmounting is apparently a very small and a very simple thing from onesfirst observation, yet the production of a bridge combining all of thefeatures necessary to overcome the disadvantages, as well as presentinga pleasing appearance on the face, is indeed a most difficult task. Thisbecomes immediately apparent if an analysis is made of the variousdifiiculties to be overcome caused by the small size and space at thedesigners disposal and also by the various differences of facialcharacteristics of the wearers; moreover it is well borne out by theexceedingly great number of bridges that have been designed and havebecome obsolete. It is therefore the principal object of the inventionto provide such a combination as to overcome the disadvantages ofearlier types of bridges, and at the same time to obtain certainstructural advantages together with a pleasing appearance.

In the past bridges have mostly had the metal disposed in one plane,namely the plane of the lenses. This required either an undue thicknessor an undue amount of material to overcome a too facile flexing normalto the said plane. It also made the depending portions too wide, givingthe bridge the appearance of great width and cutting down the space forthe nose.

In the construction of the invention the end portions have been disposedin a plane normal to the plane of the lenses, giving increased rigidityand also giving increased space for the nose. In doing so, I haveprovided such a construction of the jointure of the horizontal anddepending portions as to afford adequately bracing against displacementby up and down forces in the plane of the lenses. The various objectshave been obtained by providing in the one structure a combination ofelements or parts to take care of each, and this has been done aftercareful consideration of all the requirements of such an article.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar characters refer to similarparts throughout, the bridge member itself as an article of manufacturecomprises the central or bridge portion I disposed substantially in theplane of the lenses (see Figure II) and bent or arched at 2 (see FiguresII and XVIII) to fit over the nose, and depending portions or legs 4. Asthe bridge portion I recedes progressively on each side of the nose, itdivides as it approaches the reverse bend 3 from which the legs 4 extendforwardly normal to the plane of the lenses. Thus a brace 6 divergesdownwardly from thebridge portion I to form an under brace in the anglebetween the portion I and the adjacent leg 4 and the brace 5, Figure XVIforms an upper brace. The braces 6 join the rear edges of the forwardlyextending portions 4 (see Figures II and XVIII) at a point below thearch of the bridge portion I.

The braces 6 strengthen and stiffen the depending portions 4 againstdisplacement. They also stiifen the structure against displacementupwardly and downwardly in the plane of the lenses.

The depending portions or legs 4 having their material disposed normalto the general plane oi the bridge portion I stiffen the structureagainst fiexure in a direction normal to the portion I. The legs 4having only their thickness disposed between the lenses provide maximumwidth for the nose space. The legs 4 being wide in a plane normal to thelenses afford maximum surface for connection to the lens straps.

As shown in Figure I, only the ends of the legs 4 are secured at 8 tothe lens holding means I.

Accordingly the spacing between the lenses can be varied slightly,according to how much the lower ends of the depending portions or legs 4are bent outwardly or spread apart. The ends of the legs 4 may besecured to the lens holding means, such as the straps I shown, by solderor otherwise.

The lenses 9 are held in place in the lens straps I by any suitablemeans such as the lens screws II). The guard arms I I may if desired besecured to the lens straps 1, extending rearwardly to support the guardsI2 in the usual manner.

The process of making this bridge member is what is termed in the art asa blanking out process. The bridge blank A is blanked out of a sheet ofmaterial S by blanking dies (see Figures IV and V). The blank A is thenplaced in a die member I3 and pierced by spaced plungers I5, Figure VI.This forms the kerfs I4 shown in Figure VII. The blank A thus formed isplaced in a formed die I6, Figure VIII, which has raised portions I6awhich in shape follow the contour of the kerfs It and fit within theseopenings I4 in the blank A. The curved fillets I! of the portions Isaround the edges Ila at the back of the openings I4 of the bridge blankA. The side walls of the recesses of the die I6 are also provided withcurved fillets to round the outer edges at the back of the blank A asshown at Ilb in Figure IX.

The blank A is then placed in the dies I8 and.

on the bridge, but also to round, the front .edges of the blank as at 23and to extend the openings I4 towards this engraving. This extension 24of the opening I 4 does not go all the way through the blank but isindented therein (see Figures XIII, XVI and XVII). This gives theappearance of a larger opening without reducing the strength. The bridgemay be either plain or en graved as'desired. Engraving is indicated at22 in Figure XIII. The indentation 24, Figure XVI,

tapers towards the center of the bridge, decreasl For this purpose Iemploy the dies 20 and 2| which are of a character to form not only thecentral engraving 22 ing in depth inwardly. The rounded edges 23 of theopening 14 blend into this taper. In the finished bridge the edges arerounded both back and front.

The depending portions or legs 4 are next bent forward normal to theplane of the lenses by placing the formed blank between the clampingjaws 25 and 26, Figure XIV, reshaping the portions 4 by a suitableturning tool 21 which is pivoted to rotate from the position illustratedin dotted lines, Figure XIV, to the position illustrated in full lines,thereby bending over the end 4.

Among the new and important steps in the process are those of roundingthe edges of the openings l4, and extending the tapered indent in suchfashion as to blend into the opening I. Moreover there is suflicientworking of the metal during the blanking out or piercing of the openingsI l and the rounding of the edges and shaping of the indent 24 tostiffen the bridge portion l and properly control its flexingcharacteristics. For attaching the ends of the legs 4 to the straps asat 8 these ends may be bent as desired (see Figure XV) to regulate thedistance for the nose, etc. This has the advantage of allowin one bridgeto be used for a number of different distances between lenses, thusaccommodating requirements for various individuals.

It will be noted from Figure XVIII that the This,

braces do not make a tight bend at 3. reverse curve can be made somewhatless gradual so as to impart more crest angle to the bridge, and also ifdesired to raise the center of the bridge. The ability to manipulate thebends at 3 and also to increase or decrease the arch at 2 gives facilityto the fitter in adjusting the bridge member and fitting the ophthalmicmounting to the face of the wearer.

Since the depending portions 4 have their thickness disposed normal tothe plane of the lenses, they appear to be of very light weight,blending into the general contour of the bridge with a gracefulappearance, and giving a narrower appearance to the whole bridge whichis exceedingly desirable.

The bowing forward of the central portion at 2 together with the reversebends 3 make it posible for the legs 4 to lie substantially in the planeof the lenses, for the bridge portion l to arch over the nose, and yetfor the bridge as a whole to have the pleasing appearance and thedesirable fitting qualities of a wrap around type of bridge.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided acombination of features of a simple and economical combination welladapted to obtain all the objects and advantages of the invention and toovercome disadvantages of prior construction.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a process of forming a bridge member, the steps consisting inblanking a member out of sheet material with a central or bridge portionand depending portions or legs, piercing openings in said memberextending inwardl from said legs toward the center of said bridgeportion, forming in said bridge portion indentations or depressionstapering toward the center of said portion as an apparent continuationof said openings, and bending said depending portions to liesubstantially normal to the plane of the original sheet.

2. In a process of forming a bridge member, the steps consisting inblanking out of a sheet of material a member having a central or bridgeportion and depending portions or legs and forming openings in saidmember extending inwardly from said legs toward the center of saidbridge portion, indenting said bridge portion to form depressionstapering toward the center of said portion from said openings androunding the edges of said openings so as to blend into saiddepressions, and bending said depending portions to lie substantiallynormal to the plane of the original sheet.

3. In a process of forming a bridge member, the steps consisting inblanking a member out of sheet material with a central arch shapedportion and depending side portions disposed substantially in a singleplane, striking said blanked member to round the contour edges on atleast one side of said blanked out member, striking said member to curvethe central arch portion outwardly of the initial plane and thencereversely bending the depending side portions to lie in a directionsubstantially normal to the original plane.

4. In a process of forming a bridge member, the steps consisting inblanking a member out of sheet material with a central arch shapedportion and depending side portions disposed substantially in a singleplane, striking said blanked member to round the contour edges on atleast one side of said blanked out member, striking said blanked memberto curve the central arch portion outwardly of the initial plane,bending said depending side portions rearwardly and then forwardly todispose said side portions in a plane substantially normal to theoriginal plane of the sheet material and deflecting the lower ends ofsaid depending portions in a direction outwardly away from each other.

5. A process of forming a bridge member with steps consisting ofblanking out of a sheet of material a member having a central or bridgeportion and depending portions or legs and forming openings in saidportion extending inwardly from said legs toward the center of thebridge portion, striking the portion thus formed to round the contouredges on at least one side thereof and to form indentations ordepressions tapering inwardly and communicating with the openings insaid bridge portion and bending said depending portions to lie in adirection substantially normal to the original plane of said material.

6. In a process of forming a bridge member,

the steps consisting of blanking out of a sheet of material a memberhaving an arched central or bridge portion and depending portions orlegs angularly disposed relative to each other so as to converge towardthe lower ends thereof, forming openings and depressions communicatingwith said openings and extending inwardly from the depending sideportions toward the center of the central arch portion and bending saiddepending side portions to lie substantially normal to the plane of theoriginal sheet material.

'7. In a process of forming a bridge member, the steps consisting ofblanking out of a sheet of material a member having an arched central orbridge portion and depending portions or legs angularly disposedrelative to each other so as to converge toward the lower ends thereof,forming openings and depressions communicating with said openings andextending inwardly from the depending side portions toward the center ofthe central arch portion, curving said central arch portion in adirection substantially normal to the initial curve of the arch of saidcentral portion and bending said depending side portions to liesubstantially normal to the plane of the original sheet material.

8. In a process of forming a bridge member the steps consisting inblanking out of a sheet of material a member having a central portionand 9.'In a'process of forming a bridge member for an ophthalmicmounting, the steps of blanking out a sheet of material having a centralportion and depending leg portions with the central portion havingopenings in each side thereof tapering inwardly from adjacent the legstoward the solid center of the bridge portion to produce a pair ofspaced arms on either side of the solid central portion with the outerends of the spaced arms being connected adjacent the depending portionsor legs with said legs being bent to a plane substantially normal to theoriginal plane of said material and deflecting the lower sections of thelegs away from each other.

GEORGE E. NERNEY.

